What is it?
Hiking and Trekking are often used as interchangeable terms, but there are some differences in the activities. A trek is often a longer journey than a hike, and usually takes place across areas with no other means of transport. Hiking is a more recreational pastime than trekking, as people go on hikes to enjoy the environment; the purpose of a trek is to reach a destination.
What does it involve?
Although the definitions are different, hiking and trekking are reasonably similar practices. Both involve long distance walking in areas with no towns or roads by navigating a path through the environment or following an established trail.
Why do it and what are the benefits?
Getting out and about in the world is always beneficial, even if it's just for the fresh air! Nature is important to appreciate, and spending time walking through the environment can help you to better understand how the world works when you remove the majority of human influence.
What equipment do we need?
Appropriate attire is vital when hiking or trekking; for example, wearing the wrong kind of shoes can result in painful blisters. Camping gear may also be required if it's a particularly long journey you are undertaking, and make sure to take food and water with you if it's not going to be available on route!
Who is it suitable for?
Particularly young groups of children won't be suitable for taking on long walks, but they may enjoy something like a shorter walk around the grounds of a castle!
Costs?
Going hiking or trekking can be completely free, as it doesn't have to involve any establishments outside your own. However, you can hire guides to lead your group on a walk, and sometimes the area you wish to walk in may be a national park and could have an entry fee.
Issues/Things to think about? (unsuitable for age groups, medical conditions etc)
Younger groups will need careful supervision when out and about in the world, they could easily wander off!
How do we include?
The inclusion of everybody in your student group will depend on the kind of terrain you are covering, and the distance involved. Be aware of the specific needs of your group when planning your route - uneven/steep ground won't be suitable for those with physical difficulties.
Doing it abroad?
The foreign landscapes and natural environments are often more varied and interesting than our own, and could make for a great hike or trek. Make sure to plan your route out properly and be aware of safety advice beforehand - you don't want to get lost/stuck with no way out and no means of calling for help!
Main website:
Lanhydrock is the perfect country house and estate, with the feel of a wealthy but unpretentious family home.
This winter take a stroll around the extensive gardens and enjoy the year-round colour. There are beautiful herbaceous borders, a fabulous formal parterre and colourful higher gardens.
Standing at 180ft tall, this is Britain's largest chalk hill figure. It is also our most controversial.
Many theories surround the giant's identity. Is it an ancient symbol of spirituality? The Greco-Roman hero Hercules? Or a mockery of Oliver Cromwell? Local folklore has long held it to be an aid to fertility.
A beautiful area with stunning views over the River Dart estuary and Start Bay.
In spring and summer the coastal paths are ablaze with colour from wild flowers. Walk up to Gallants Bower to discover the Royalist Civil War fort and keep an eye out for the greater spotted woodpecker.
Gallants Bower
This is where the Shakespeare story began.
Shakespeare's Birthplace has been welcoming visitors for over 250 years. This is the house where William Shakespeare was born, grew up and played. He ate meals in the hall and he slept and dreamt in these rooms. Shakespeare also spent the first five years of married life in this house with his new wife, Anne Hathaway.
Minchinhampton Common is a large swathe of open grassland on the hill top and slopes of the Cotswold escarpment. It is a really important archaeological landscape, with prehistoric field systems, burial mounds and the remains of a defensive earthwork, known as The Bulwarks. In the summer the common is grazed by local commoners' cattle.
With 3,800 acres of parkland, gardens, woodlands and a lake, 20 miles of cycle routes and bike hire, plus a Discovery Centre, and a Woodland Play Park. Visit the Discovery Centre to see what children's activities they are offering during the holidays. This National Trust managed Estate offers lots to do.
Marvel at plants from all over the world grown from seed and cuttings collected over a century ago on plant-hunting expeditions. Created by five generations of one family, this 32-hectare (80-acre) garden is superbly located, with spectacular views across Snowdonia.
Located on the shores of Upper Lough Erne, Crom is one of the most romantic and peaceful places in Northern Ireland. This 2,000 acre demesne is surrounded by tranquil islands and ancient woodlands.
One of Ireland's most important conservation areas, Crom is home to a wealth of wildlife. Discover it whether you are fishing, woodland walking, butterfly spotting or bird watching.
We look forward to welcoming you in the spring when the garden comes to life again. The woodland walks are lovely at this time of year and on a clear day the views over the Cheshire Plain are great. And there really are hares!
Occupying a prominent position on three spurs on the Cotswold escarpment, there are views across the Severn estuary towards the Forest of Dean and Brecon Beacons. With its dramatic topography, intimate woodlands, extensive grasslands and exposed and wild promontory hill fort the estate offers a variety of contrasting experiences.
Holmwood Common is at the heart of the local community and is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered by all. It’s just off the A24 (south of Dorking), so why not break a car journey south to the coast with a stop? Stretch your legs and explore...
This beautiful Cotswold countryside, which we manage jointly with Gloucestershire County Council, boasts a wide variety of habitats and plants. The limestone grassland is extremely rich in plants, which in turn support a large variety of insects, especially butterflies.
Open the gate and step into a colourful mosaic of purple, greens and gold. All is quiet apart from the sounds of nature. Visit and discover why Hindhead Commons and the Devil’s Punch Bowl is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
This is the only National Nature Reserve on the Isle of Wight. It is a beautiful retreat that has something to offer boat owners, walkers, wildlife enthusiasts and historians or just those in search of peace and tranquility.
Frensham Little Pond and Great Pond were originally created in the 13th century, to supply fish to the Bishop of Winchester and his court, whilst visiting Farnham Castle. Today the pond and surrounding area is a sanctuary for wildlife with always something new to see.
The Harewoods estate was created over a number of years by the Victorian London stockbroker, Alfred Howard Lloyd, and forms a large part of the countryside in and around the picturesque village of Outwood - take a look at the Outwood village w
Discover the beautiful countryside and rugged scenery of Marsden Moor. With more than 5000 acres of moorland to explore, there is always something new to see.
A step into Lanlay Meadows is a step back in time, where sprawling, unkempt hedgerows meet gnarled, twisted old oak trees.
Farmed for centuries, this small fragment of land has lain unchanged for decades, avoiding the wrath of today's flail hedge trimmers and fertilisers and becoming a rare haven for a huge array of wildlife.
A spectacular coastline, combined with a lively working Cornish port, lends this area its unique character and charm.
There's a network of footpaths to discover, making the area great walking country, with the South West Coast Path offering sweeping views and a few hilly challenges.
The Farne Islands lie two to three miles off the Northumberland coast midway between the fishing village of Seahouses and the magnificent Castle of Bamburgh. As well as being the most famous Sea Bird Sanctuary in the British Isles they also have a large colony of Atlantic or Grey Seals.
Limpsfield Common was used by commoners for grazing their animals and collecting stone and firewood. Now, with its extensive network of footpaths and bridleways through patches of open heathland and large areas of woodland, the Common is a perfect place to enjoy the countryside, whether walking, cycling or horseriding. There’s an old Roman road to saunter along too.
The Dodman is the highest headland on the south Cornish coast. Offering spectacular views, this area is also of great archaeological interest.
A massive Iron Age earthwork, nearly 666m long and over 6m high, encloses the headland. Over 2,000 years ago, this earthwork could have housed a series of dwellings, known collectively as a promontory fort or cliff castle.
Cissbury Ring, just north of the coastal town of Worthing, is one of the jewels in the crown of the new South Downs National Park. It's the largest hill fort in Sussex and has a history dating back over 5,000 years.
Durham Coast is a wonderful place for walkers and for those who want to enjoy the scenery from the cliff top paths.
The magnesian limestone that underlies this area has given rise to a spectacular landscape of cream-coloured cliffs intersected by steep-sided wooded valleys, or gills.
The gorge is an amazing place to visit at any time of the year. The wildlife, river, plants and trees provide a stunning show each and every day.
Dippers and wagtails can be seen flying low over the river, while woodland birds can be spotted darting about in the trees.
The Bushcraft Company offer residential school trips with a difference, taking students into the wild and giving them real back-to-nature experiences they will never forget.
A 15-year-old boy fell 60ft over the edge of a cliff whilst on a geography school trip, miraculously only suffering minor injuries.